In scientific fields, a colorimeter is generally referred to as a device that measures the absorbance of particular wavelengths of light by a specific solution. This is possible because the amount of color and light that is absorbed or transmitted in a solution depends on the properties of that solution, including the concentration of the particles it obtains. Aside from their use in basic research and chemistry labs, colorimeters can also be used to test for water quality, hemoglobin in blood, or for the identification of counterfeit drugs.